As Mahieka Sharma celebrated her 25th birthday, her boyfriend, cricketer Hardik Pandya, made the day extra special with a heartfelt post on Instagram. The all-rounder shared an unseen video of the couple, capturing candid moments of laughter, hugs, and hand-holding as they enjoyed an outdoor setting lit up with fireworks. The clip ended with the pair releasing a floating lantern. Hardik captioned the video, “Happy birthday, my princess .” He added a touching note: “Thank you for coming into this world 25 years ago. You are the most amazing person I know. I love you .” Mahieka responded sweetly, writing, “You’re my best gift this year .”The couple has been seen together on multiple occasions. Earlier this year, they attended the United in Triumph event in Mumbai, holding hands and smiling for the cameras while twinning in black outfits. Hardik had confirmed their relationship in October 2025, just weeks after dating rumours surfaced. They have also been spotted at Mumbai airport and shared vacations together.Hardik was previously married to actor Natasha Stankovic. The pair tied the knot in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and welcomed their son Agastya on July 30, 2020. Their separation was confirmed in July 2025 after months of speculation. In a joint statement, they said: “After four years together, Natasha and I have decided to mutually part ways. We tried our best and gave it our all, and we believe this is in the best interest of both of us. This was a tough decision to make, given the joy, mutual respect, and companionship we shared as we built a family together.”
One of the MAC’s top teams will be on display Friday when the Akron Zips travel to take on the Ball State Cardinals. Akron is 21-5 (12-1 MAC), trailing only undefeated Miami (OH) in the conference standings. Ball State, meanwhile, has struggled this season and enters this matchup 8-18 overall with a 3-10 mark in the MAC. Akron is 13-11 against the spread this season, while Ball State is 9-15 ATS.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and it enters Week 15 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on an 11-5 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Ball State vs. Akron, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (145.5 points). Akron has hit the Over in two straight games and is 13-11 to the Over this season.
These teams met on Jan. 13, a game Akron won 87-77. That game cleared the total (152.5) as the teams combined for 164 points. This time around, the model is projecting the Over to hit again as the teams combine for 153 points.
Brian Foss displays his custom Minnesota Vikings logo prosthetic eye at the Super Fan Summit Tailgate Party, with the moment captured on Apr 25, 2025 during a gathering in Ashwaubenon that drew devoted supporters from around the league. The longtime fan stands among event attendees while sharing the distinctive accessory, offering a clear snapshot of fan creativity and team pride on a lively spring afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Kloepping-USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings are expected to explore the quarterback market after inconsistent play at the position derailed their 2025 season. While most rumors have centered around veterans and reclamation projects, a much more surprising name has quietly entered speculative league chatter.
There is no indication the Texans are actively looking to move C.J. Stroud, but his name being mentioned in broader QB speculation has naturally caught the attention of quarterback-needy teams.
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay said on his podcast, “I’m told, don’t be surprised if in the next couple of weeks there are some big-name QBs that are going to be targeted. CJ Stroud is one of them… does he need a change of scenery? Be prepared for that.”
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It’s important to note that this is not a report that Houston is actively shopping Stroud, but rather that his name has surfaced in league speculation as teams monitor quarterback movement across the offseason.
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) greets Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers following their AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Stroud is coming off a disappointing season, with disastrous playoff play in which he piled up interceptions and fumbles.
But McShay isn’t the only credible name that has moved Stroud into trade talks. A couple of weeks ago, SI.com’s Albert Breer wrote, “If Stroud’s contract negotiations get sticky, or the Texans prefer to punt them to next year—while rewarding Anderson—will there be friction? Could that impact the Texans’ offseason? Might someone swoop in to see if they could pry the wildly talented 24-year-old away?”
Stroud is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but with the fifth-year option and another year on his rookie deal, the Texans could just wait. Until he signs on the dotted line, he will remain in trade speculations.
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Breer added, “These are questions other teams have certainly asked, as Stroud’s gone through his ups and downs. Along those lines, Houston’s September signing of Davis Mills to a one-year, $7 million extension got the attention of some of those same teams. Mills, who was in Caserio’s first draft class, has started 28 games in Houston, and went 3–0 this year, while Stroud was dealing with a midseason concussion. Stay tuned on this one.”
Stroud is a fascinating player, as he looked like the real deal in his rookie season but hasn’t been nearly as sharp since.
A trade could go two ways. Either his rookie season was accurate and he’ll quickly establish himself as a franchise quarterback, or his early success was overrated and he’s not as good as everyone thought a couple of years ago. It’s a high-risk, high-reward bet,
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates running back Aaron Jones’ (33) touchdown run with head coach Kevin O’Connell during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
In the playoffs, he appeared to struggle to see the field and seemed to lack confidence. If Kevin O’Connell has shown one thing, it’s that he can infuse confidence into his passers. Sam Darnold is the prototype, but Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Nick Mullens also displayed that under his tutelage. As Stroud could be the franchise quarterback the Vikings have been looking for, it would almost be malpractice not to call the Texans and check in with GM Nick Caserio to gauge Houston’s position.
Texans writer Jared Koch of SI commented on the situation, “In reality, the Texans would have to get a notably good package in return for trading Stroud to make the most sense. Stroud is still just 24 years old, on his rookie contract, and even despite his playoff woes, has more than enough time to rebound back into the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be.”
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In three seasons and 46 games in the regular season, Stroud has recorded 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Also on his scorecard are more than 600 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Dec 21, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) exits the tunnel during player introductions before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
“Of course, everything has a price, and if another team hungry for a quarterback were to offer a haul for Stroud, there might be a discussion to be had. But the more likely outcome remains that the Texans roll with their guy for at least one more season, let him play out the fourth year of his rookie deal, and re-evaluate after he has a chance to bounce back from a rough end to his third year,” Koch concluded.
Because of his rookie season and the youth he brings to the table, a realistic trade package despite the recent struggles, would like start with a couple of 1st-round picks. At this point, it’s unclear whether the Texans would even entertain trade talks, given that they need a starting quarterback, too. If they move Stroud, they have the same options the Vikings have now, including players like Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones, Aaron Rodgers, and Malik Willis.
Sure, he’s a long shot, but Stroud, 24, is one of the more intriguing QB options for the Minnesota Vikings.
Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has returned to first-team training at Besiktas after travelling to Nigeria to bury his father.
Ndidi’s father, Sunday Ndidi, died in a car accident in Agbor, Delta State, about three weeks ago. It was a painful period for the Nigerian international and his family.
Besiktas showed strong support for the midfielder during his time of mourning. The club paid tribute to his late father and allowed Ndidi to travel home for the funeral.
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Ndidi was seen in Delta State with his family as they laid his father to rest. After the burial, he returned to Turkey and rejoined his teammates in training.
The midfielder is now expected to focus on helping Besiktas in their upcoming matches.
World number two Jannik Sinner has dismissed concerns about his early-season form, despite suffering a surprising defeat to Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open in Doha.
The Italian, who had been aiming to emulate rival Carlos Alcaraz by reaching the semi-finals, was ultimately ousted 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-3 by the 20-year-old Czech talent.
While Mensik delivered a stellar performance, showcasing why he is considered one of the sport’s brightest young prospects, Sinner was plagued by uncharacteristic errors, particularly from his forehand.
This unexpected loss follows his semi-final exit against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
Thursday’s defeat marks the first time Sinner has lost a completed hard-court match to a player ranked outside the top 10 since October 2023.
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Furthermore, he had not failed to reach the final at consecutive events since the summer of 2024, underscoring the exceptionally high standard he has maintained.
Jakub Mensik stunned Sinner in Doha (REUTERS)
The 24-year-old remained philosophical post-match, acknowledging Mensik’s strong play.
“He served really well, so it was difficult to return,” Sinner stated. “It’s been a tough break in the third, a couple of mistakes. It can happen, obviously, but, at the same time, I’m a bit disappointed in how I handled these moments.”
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He added: “Every player goes through ups and downs. I’ve had two incredible years. Having a small down, it’s nothing that’s going to worry me. I know that I can play a little bit better tennis.
“In every tournament, I would like to go as far as possible, but it’s normal to go through some tough moments. I’ve had tougher ones in the past, so I know how to come back.”
Sinner will now turn his attention to the upcoming ‘Sunshine Double’ events in Indian Wells and Miami next month, where he will aim to narrow the significant ranking gap to Alcaraz, which could exceed 3,000 points by the week’s end.
Nov 28, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) looks on during the third quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is just a couple months away, and fanbases across the NFL are in heated debate over which prospects their team should add this spring.
However, one of the positions that has not been discussed as much this year is the quarterback position, particularly now that names like Dante Moore and Trinidad Chambliss are no longer in this draft class. It looks like one of the weaker draft classes we’ve seen in the past decade, but could there be a few diamonds in the rough? Let’s break down my top eight quarterbacks in this class.
It’s no surprise at this point. Fernando Mendoza is a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion for a reason. He’s the best quarterback in this draft class, and after Moore decided to return to Oregon, it’s not particularly close.
Mendoza is accurate, and he is a lights out quarterback in the red zone. He showed he can layer his throws on intermediate and deep passes throughout the 2025 campaign, and he didn’t have a single turnover worthy play on throws of fewer than 10 yards. The big area that needs to improve is his improvisation outside of the pocket. Once he is pressured, his completion percentage dropped to 51.2% this year.
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That may limit his star potential in the NFL, but it won’t be enough to take away his QB1 status at this point.
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) passes against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Alabama had a pretty difficult schedule in 2025, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at Ty Simpson’s numbers. He proved that he can well against some of the toughest competition in college football. He has decent arm strength to push the ball downfield, and he can maneuver outside the pocket to make off-schedule throws.
In terms of negatives though, Simpson enters the danger zone a little too often for a player who is immediately ready to be an NFL quarterback. He has a lot of Will Levis in him, meaning he tries to make plays when he really should just get rid of the football and live to play another down. It likely will be the reason he doesn’t start during his rookie season.
3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Oct 12, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) reaches to knock the ball loose from LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
After a decent 2024 campaign, many were waiting for Garrett Nussmeier to take the next step and become a top-tier prospect heading into the draft. That never happened though. His average depth of target dropped by 2.5 yards this season, and he had just 14 big time throws compared to 26 in 2024.
Granted, Nussmeier played just nine games as he battled through injuries, so perhaps at full health he’ll feel more comfortable letting it rip like we saw in 2024. Or perhaps he is destined to be a backup like what the 2025 version of his game indicated. He did have a very solid Senior Bowl showing, so that should help his stock among NFL franchises.
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4. Drew Allar, Penn State
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) takes a snap during the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
The 2025 season was a year from hell for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and it was no different for their quarterback, Drew Allar. He was a shell of the quarterback that we had seen in 2024, and his season ended early due to a broken ankle.
That being said, if I’m being entirely honest, I can’t give up on Allar. The dude just looks like an NFL quarterback. He’s 6’5″ and 235 pounds, has a cannon for an arm, and he is a gifted athlete. If he can sure up his mechanics and take the open throws when they arrive, he can be an NFL quarterback. That is a big if though after what we saw in a limited showing this past season.
5. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Jan 28, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; American Team quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) of Illinois throws during American Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Luke Altmyer transferred to Illinois after two seasons at Ole Miss and almost instantly helped turn around a program that had just one winning season from 2012-2022. Altmyer led the Fighting Illini to a pair of bowl wins in 2024 and 2025, and he did it by being a gunslinger with a quick trigger. He gets the ball out quick, and he isn’t afraid of trying to make a big play.
Ultimately, Altmyer plays like a Nick Mullens type who will hunt the big play at the risk of making disastrous turnovers. His NFL career could be a roller coaster ride, but don’t be surprised if there are a few fun moments.
6. Carson Beck, Miami
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
No matter where he’s been, you’ve kind of always known what you’re going to get with Carson Beck. That can be a blessing and a curse for the QB heading into the NFL draft.
Throughout college, Beck was essentially a game manager. When given time in the pocket, he makes solid decisions with the football, which allowed Miami to make the national title game this season. However, when he’s under pressure, things start to break down. He throws passes up for grabs and isn’t consistent in the middle portion of the field. That will need to be cleaned up if he ever has a chance to start in the NFL.
7. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) throws the ball during the first half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Cade Klubnik arguably had one of the best supporting cast in college football this season with a veteran offensive line and some great receiving talent, but his numbers ended up falling flat this year. He didn’t have as many big time throws this year as he did in 2024, and he just never seemed to fully click with his receivers in terms of timing.
Like Altmyer, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Klubnik carve out a role for himself as a backup quarterback, but he doesn’t really have a “wow” trait that would propel him into starter territory.
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8. Taylen Green, Arkansas
Nov 29, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) rushes during the second quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Taylen Green is an athletic freak at 6’6″ and 235 pounds while also being extremely mobile. His 994 rushing yards ranked 8th among FBS quarterbacks this season, and he also had eight rushing touchdowns. Green makes big plays with his arm and his legs.
The problem is he holds on to the ball long enough to cause trouble for himself, and he hasn’t quite figured out a way to consistently get out of trouble when it arrives. He completed just 32 of 87 attempts when under pressure this year, and he had 12 turnover plays in 142 such drop backs. There is a lot of Anthony Richardson here without as freakish of a frame.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey
Glenn Thornton appreciates Run Lucy Run’s potential, yet achieving consistent high-level efforts from her calls for patience, which he expects to bring positive outcomes.
Once a Victorian trainer now settled on the Gold Coast, he is moulding his 12-horse 2026 squad, with Run Lucy Run targeting consecutive wins after her success in the Gordon’s Gin Class 4 Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich on Friday.
The four-year-old mare took the prize at this course and distance on January 31, and a good-rated track should work in her favour.
This result snapped a drought of poor finishes since December 2024.
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“She’s done really well since and there is no reason why she can’t go well again,” Thornton said.
“She usually improves through her preps and doesn’t go backwards.
“Last time, if we couldn’t win we were in a bit of trouble.
Betting commenced with her at $3.40 universally, now firmed to $2.50 post the Thursday withdrawal of favourite Noble Decree.
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Additional scratchings of two rivals adjusted her barrier from 11 to eight.
“She’s performed in better class races than this,” Thornton added.
“If she’s getting closer to where she was as a three-year-old then she’ll run well.
Thornton’s Queensland migration five years prior aligned with his kids Damien (reins on Run Lucy Run), Boris, and Stephanie moving north, a choice he doesn’t regret.
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He dreams of elevating Run Lucy Run to metro ranks again but savours a local triumph at Ipswich presently.
“We were happy to go back to Ipswich knowing it was a good surface and, unless they get rain on the day, they usually dish up a reliable track.
Visit leading racing betting markets to back Run Lucy Run in the upcoming Gordon’s Gin Class 4 Handicap at Ipswich.
It was easy to take it for granted when the Toronto Raptors were an Eastern Conference playoff machine, qualifying for the post-season in eight of nine seasons beginning in 2013-14. It’s been slim pickings since. The Raptors did squeeze out an ultimately unsatisfying appearance in the Play-In Tournament in 2023, but since then?
Seasons of 25 and 30 wins as part of an on-the-fly rebuild.
There remain questions about the long-term rewards of the path the Raptors have chosen, but coming out of the all-star break with games that need to be won is objectively preferable to waiting to see how many ping pong balls can be gathered up in advance of the draft lottery.
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“I think it’s amazing. We’ve got a great opportunity at hand. We’ve just got to take full advantage of it,” said Raptors all-star Scottie Barnes, fresh from spending the weekend representing the Raptors in Los Angeles at the NBA’s mid-season gala. “(But) we’ve got to turn it up a notch, including our defence. That’s where it all starts. We’ve got to really toughen things up and try to make it hard for (the opposition). This is when you’ve got to start getting everything right so you’re ready for (the playoffs).”
But meaningful basketball doesn’t necessarily mean beautiful basketball.
The Raptors did what was necessary in their first game in eight days following the all-star break: they won, dispatching the new-look Chicago Bulls 110-101, but it was not a game they’ll remember for any other reason than the result.
When a team forces 20 turnovers and makes a season-high 14 steals while taking 14 more shots than their opponents, the hope would be they wouldn’t be up by just two with just 2:12 to play, especially when they were up by nine with 4:32 to play, or by 14 late in the third quarter.
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But that’s what happened at the United Center. It was a continuation of a theme as the Raptors loose shooting (42.2 per cent from the floor and 7-of-23 from three) nearly undid a generally high level of effort defensively.
“I thought we did a really, really good job there with our hand activity and keeping them in front, really setting the tone for the whole game,” said Rajakovic. “… Usually this first game, and we talked about it before the game, is (about) finding the rhythm a little bit, getting the rust off. But what I’m proud of is our guys, they stayed the course during the whole game. We knew we were supposed to convert a little bit more, (but) we kept finding ways to compete and came out with a very important win for us.”
A significant factor on that front was the play of Brandon Ingram, who delivered a proper effort with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. It wasn’t flawless — he was 11-of-26 from the floor — but he was determined to play through any rust or sluggishness, and the Raptors were fortunate he did.
“I just had that mentality to be aggressive,” said Ingram. “I know from previous years how it is coming off all-star break. Guys come in a little rusty, so I thought it was important for me to go out and just be aggressive whether the shot was going in or not.”
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His two biggest plays came in the final minutes. After the Bulls late 7-0 spurt had cut the Raptors lead to two, Ingram found Collin Murray-Boyles at the basket with about six inches and 50 pounds on Bulls guard Anfernee Simons. The burly rookie was fouled, scored and made the free throw to extend Toronto’s lead back to five. Next trip down, Ingram called his own number and hit an 18-footer that pushed Toronto’s lead to seven with 35 seconds left and iced the game.
“It’s a huge luxury for me as a coach to have (Ingram) in those situations. He’s just not getting rattled,” said Rajakovic. “He gets to the spot on the floor and reads the game really well. If he has a good shot, he’s gonna take it. But he also did a good job in that game with six assists. He did a good job of finding open people. That’s a great example, how he found CMB under the rim for a layup.”
If we’re nitpicking, the Raptors shouldn’t have been in that tough against a Bulls team that is rebuilding on the fly. Chicago made seven trades at the deadline and features seven new players on their roster since Feb. 5th, most of them guards. As well, the Bulls were reintegrating Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith after injury absences and were without head coach Billy Donovan due to the death of his father.
The Bulls looked like a team being remade in motion as they coughed up nine first-quarter turnovers. But the Raptors’ own state of discombobulation meant that they were only up by two even though they had 10 more field goal attempts. But the math only works if the shots go in, and Toronto converted just 10 of their 25 first-quarter shots and failed to hit a three. And it wasn’t like they weren’t prone to treating the ball like something hot and slippery.
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The most absurd sequence of the early going came when the Raptors forced a Bulls eight-second violation only to have Immanuel Quickley (14 points) miss a wide-open elbow jumper. Toronto then forced another turnover when Jamal Shead (four points, four assists and two steals) intercepted a post entry, only to have Barnes (14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, but six turnovers) promptly throw the ball cross-court and out-of-bounds after the Raptors got the ball up the floor.
Next, the Raptors Ja’Kobe Walter (14 points, three steals) stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and while it was probably a bad idea for him to try and dunk over Bulls centre Jalen Smith, he got two free throws for the effort. Encouraged, Walter made another steal, got fouled and hit those freebies, too. But then Shead turned it over, and Smith went the other way for a fastbreak dunk.
Still, the Raptors were able to persevere through it enough to take a 53-45 lead into the half and eventually hold Chicago off for the win. The victory improved their record to 33-23, good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, and while they remain two games behind fourth-place Cleveland, they are now 2.5 games up on sixth-place Philadelphia.
Those are all good things, if Toronto’s overall performance against the Bulls wasn’t all good.
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1. Murray-Boyles with the start: With Jakob Poeltl back in good health, it was somewhat surprising that Rajakovic started Murray-Boyles (11 points, six rebounds) at centre but the explanation made sense: “Going into this game, we were thinking (Guerschon) Yabusele or (Jalen) Smith were starting. We knew the best thing to do [against centres that spread the floor] was switching more. I talked to Jak, so he was completely fine coming off the bench. (With) Nick Richards was coming off the bench,” said Rajakovic. “We were trying to match him up with those minutes (against a more traditional centre). And also, I’m really intrigued to see what it looks like with Jamal (Shead) on the floor and some of the other guys in the second unit.” In just his second game back after missing nearly two months, Poeltl managed just one field goal attempt and didn’t grab a rebound in 16 minutes, but seemed to be moving fluidly and without restriction, so there’s that.
2. What was that all about? RJ Barrett (13 points, six rebounds, three assists on 3-of-10 shooting) got hit with a well-deserved fragrant foul after giving Bulls centre Richards a firm elbow to the stomach while coming around a screen in the first quarter. I asked Barrett about it afterwards and was surprised that it wasn’t in retaliation for anything Richards had done, but more in frustration that the referees hadn’t been making calls to Barrett’s satisfaction. “They started making calls after that, right?” he said. He added that there were no hard feelings between him and the big Bulls centre, who have known each other since they were teenagers playing on the World Team together at the Nike Hoop Summit in 2017.
3. Mamu boo-boo: Sandro Mamukelashvili ended up playing against Chicago despite being listed as questionable before the game due to a bruised rib he suffered when he got caught by a stray elbow from Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins. He told me that it has settled down considerably over the past week, but he spent the first four or five days of the all-star break finding it uncomfortable to breathe, cough or roll over in bed. The good news is it will only be likely to bother him for another month or so …. The big Georgian finished with seven points and three rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.
Vincent Kompany has issued strong criticism of Jose Mourinho over his reaction to Vinicius Jr’s accusation of alleged racist abuse in a Champions League play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Kompany, the Bayern Munich manager, used a press conference to give an impassioned speech which drew on his own experiences of racism in football, and said Mourinho had made a “huge mistake” by “attacking the character” of Vinicius in the aftermath.
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Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, a 20-year-old Argentina international, of calling him a “monkey” in the wake of the Brazilian’s second-half goal for Madrid. The claims were backed up by his teammate Kylian Mbappe, who said he heard the abuse by Prestianni, who could be seen holding his shirt over his mouth during an exchange with Madrid players.
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Vinicius reacted furiously to something said by Prestianni and alerted the match officials. The French referee, Francois Letexier, paused the game for 11 minutes after activating Fifa’s anti-racism protocols, although the action later continued with Prestianni on the field.
Fans inside the Estadio Da Luz loudly booed and jeered Vinicius throughout the remainder of the game, as Real Madrid saw out a 1-0 victory.
Prestianni now faces an investigation by Uefa. He has denied racially abusing Vinicius and claimed to have been misheard.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth when speaking to Vinicius Jr (AFP/Getty)
After the match, Benfica manager Mourinho blamed Vinicius for the confrontation and said the Brazilian had incited his players because he did not celebrate in a “respectful way”. Mourinho also claimed Benfica could not be considered guilty of racism because the club’s greatest player, Eusebio, was Black.
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“I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho said, of his conversation with Vinicius after the game. “And then when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was Black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.
“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays, something happens. Always.”
Bayern Munich manager Kompany was asked for his take on the incident ahead of his team’s weekend game in the Bundesliga, and he responded with a long answer in which he defended Vinicius and tore into Mourinho’s response.
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“When you watch the action itself and how Vini reacted, that reaction cannot be faked,” Kompany said. “You can see it was an emotional reaction. I don’t see any benefit for him to go to the referee and put all this misery on his shoulders. In that moment he saw that it was the right thing to do.
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“Kylian Mbappe normally always stays diplomatic, but he was very clear about what he saw and heard. Then there’s the Benfica player who was hiding what he was saying in his shirt. In the stadium you can see there were people [Benfica fans] doing monkey signs, it’s in the video.
“And for me, what happened after the game is even worse. Jose Mourinho has basically attacked the character of Vini Jr by bringing in the type of Vini’s celebration to discredit what he was doing at that moment. It was a huge mistake in terms of leadership.
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“On top of that, Mourinho mentioned the name of Eusebio. He said Benfica cannot be racist because their best ever player was Eusebio. Do you know what Black players had to go through in the 60s? Was he there to travel with Eusebio every away game and see what he went through?”
Jose Mourinho confronts Vincius Jr after the incident in Lisbon (AP)
Kompany said Mourinho has a positive reputation in the game and is “deep down a good person”, but suggested the Benfica manager had made a serious misjudgement with his reaction.
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“I met 100 people who worked with Jose Mourinho. I’ve never heard someone say something bad about Jose. All his players love him. I understand the person he is, I understand he fights for his club. I know deep down he’s a good person. I don’t need to judge him on that. But I also know what I’ve heard. I understand what he’s done, but he made a mistake. Hopefully it won’t happen again in the future, and we can move on together.”
Bayern Munich officials were present in Istanbul to watch Victor Osimhen during Galatasaray’s 5-2 Champions League victory over Juventus. The German club is planning for the future and is looking for a long-term striker to lead their attack.
Although Harry Kane remains a top scorer, Bayern are aware that the England captain is in the later stage of his career. The club wants a younger forward who can press, run and lead the line in the years ahead. Their current loan striker has not fully impressed, so Bayern’s recruitment team is exploring other options.
Osimhen is one of the players on their list. The Nigerian striker has continued to build his reputation in Europe after strong spells in France and Italy, and he has maintained his high level since joining Galatasaray in a big-money move.
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Against Juventus, Osimhen did not score, but he played a key role in the win. He provided two assists and caused constant problems for the Italian defence with his pace, strength and pressing. His pressure led to mistakes that helped Galatasaray score important goals in the match.
Other European giants are also keeping an eye on the Super Eagles forward, but Galatasaray are not keen to sell him. The Turkish champions are expected to demand a huge fee if any club wants to sign their star striker.
NEW DELHI: In a region where borders blur into mountains and valleys fold into one another, India’s Northeast has never lacked talent. What it has lacked, for decades, is attention. Its athletes have long defined a culture of discipline that rarely seeks validation from the mainland.And today, riding on India’s unequivocal chess boom, the Northeast has found its latest sensation.At 15, Tripura’s chess prodigy Arshiya Das recently became the first Woman International Master (WIM) from Northeast India. Playing in Serbia, she not only won the 42nd Rudar IM Round Robin tournament with a score of 6.5/9 but also completed her final WIM norm.
From No Laptop to Chess World Cup Dreams: GM Pranesh M Exclusive Interview
For India, it is another prodigy proving her worth in the world of chess. For the Northeast, it is a tectonic shift.“We are very happy because we know she is actually very dedicated to chess. It was her dream for a long time to become national champion. She became Under-15 National Champion in November last year. Then, in the Senior National Women’s Championships 2025, which is a big tournament, she got a bronze medal. We saw that she is at her peak. So we planned to send her to Europe because all the norms come from there,” Arshiya’s father Purnendu Das told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive interaction.
Arshiya Das (Special Arrangements)
“Also, next year, she has 10th board exams, so things are getting tight. Before that, we planned this and sent her. She completed two norms, one in the first week of January, and this was the final norm.”Arshiya’s story began at the breakfast tableLike a plethora of Indian prodigies, Arshiya, born in March 2010, did not start in an academy or under a master coach. Rather, it began with her parents trying to get their child to eat breakfast and get ready for school.“This was around 2015. You know, when you have to make the children eat breakfast before sending them to school, you need to give them something in their hands, like a laptop or a mobile phone. So we used to give her a laptop so that she would eat her breakfast properly,” her father recalled.
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Arshiya Das (Special Arrangements)
“When she would open the laptop, in Windows, there was a default chess game. She got used to sit with it. Then, one day, in a mall, she saw a chessboard and said, ‘This is the thing I saw on the laptop, I need this.’ So, I bought her a board. From there, her interest grew slowly.”From under-7 nationals to global exposureAt six, she finished in the top 10 in the Under-7 nationals. However, with an aim to better the scores, she participated again in the same tournament next year in 2017 and won bronze. The progress over a year was indeed noticeable, and it prompted the Das family to look at Arshiya’s potential with a sharper, more deliberate lens.“From Tripura, this was the first time someone got bronze and got selected for the World Cadet and Asian Youths to represent India,” her father added with palpable pride.International exposure followed as gold and bronze medals in Uzbekistan and a representation in the World Cadet Championship in Spain ensured her steady climb through India’s age-group hierarchy.
Arshiya Das (Special Arrangements)
When COVID shut down the circuit, Arshiya started playing online with unforeseen obsession.“During COVID, she played around 400-500 online tournaments and became champion in many of them. She utilised COVID very well,” Purnendu said.Training across IndiaFor a chess player in the Northeast, geography is the first opponent, not the one sitting at the other end of the board. For elite training, one must travel to Chennai, Kolkata, or Delhi. Agartala is an afterthought.“From the Northeast, coaching was always a problem. We had to go to Kolkata, Chennai, or Delhi,” her father admitted.And that is perhaps why her coaching journey spans local mentors Ramesh Koloi and Pradip Chaudhary, Apollosana Rajkumar in Manipur, FM Prasenjit Dutta, GM Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury in Kolkata, and the Gurukul system under GM RB Ramesh and WGM Aarthi in Chennai.Today, she trains with IM Kaustav Kundu and GM Swayams Mishra, attends Chola Chess Academy camps, and logs online hours with GM Jacob Aagaard’s Killer Chess Training.A family with purposeArshiya’s story is inseparable from her family’s sacrifices. Her father is an engineer. Her mother, Arnesha Das, stepped away from her own ambitions to aid the ambitions of their only child.“She wanted to join the Tripura Civil Service but sacrificed to support Arshiya,” her father told this website.
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Family of Arshiya Das (Special Arrangements)
They live in government quarters in Agartala.“She studies in Holy Cross School, ICSE board, very tough. But school is very supportive with special notes and special classes. She missed the Class 9 exam due to Under-15 Nationals, but school promoted her and asked her to focus on board exams next year,” Mr Das revealed.Amid the hardships…The Das family is well aware of the financial burden that comes with steady improvement in ratings.“We depend on a government job. Flights from Agartala to Chennai are very expensive. She’s been playing since 2015, 11 years now. So it has already been a huge expenditure,” he added.“She once had a laptop problem. Sagar Shah (from ChessBase India) helped and got her a specially designed laptop for chess players. After that, her performance increased 50–60%. Before that, she used a Rs 35,000 laptop since 2016, but the battery changed four times.”But even amid the hardships, people have always come forward to help their cause.Dipa Karmakar, her coach, and many moreDipa Karmakar, the Olympic gymnast who put the city on the global sports map, is now the state’s sports director. She and her coach Bishweshwar Nandi personally trained Arshiya physically.In 2021, Arshiya received the Prime Minister’s Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for becoming the first and only girl chess player from the Northeast to receive an international gold medal.
PM Modi interacting with Arshiya Das (Special Arrangements)
But the latest WIM title is not the end of the road, as her current European tour is stitched together like a budget airline itinerary.“We planned five tournaments in one trip to save costs, and her mother is with her. After playing all five, she will return to Agartala on March 2,” Purnendu added.“We are definitely very happy, and in our state also, people associated with us, the sports minister sir, everyone is very happy that among girls from the Northeast, she is the first.”ALSO READ: No ecosystem in India, no problem: How 9-year-old Arshi Gupta became the youngest ever to join F1 Academy’s programmeBefore concluding, Arshiya’s father circled back to a recurring concern: “The Northeast lacks big companies for sponsorship. We request companies to support girl children in Northeast chess. Out of 91 Indian GMs, only 4 are women. We need to boost girls. PM schemes are coming. If companies support, Arshiya can become the first female GM from the Northeast.”
